Solvents are used in nearly all industries, from cosmetics to semiconductors, and from biotechnology research to iron and steel production. This book is a comprehensive and extensive textual analysis of the principles of solvent selection and use. It is a balanced presentation of solvent performance, processing characteristics, and environment and health issues.

The book is intended to help formulators select ideal solvents, safety coordinators to protect workers, legislators and inspectors to define and implement technically correct public safeguards on solvent use, handling, and disposal.

The contributors are members of prestigious universities and industries from around the world. Altogether, they have written 47 books and hundreds of paper on the subject of solvents. Here they give a synthesis of their experiences and opinions on how to best change the global use of solvents in order to both benefit from the technology, and limit health, safety, and environmental risks.